In what could be a huge Democratic landslide in New Jersey, Sen. Barack Obama tops Republican
Sen. John McCain 59 - 36 percent while incumbent Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg leads
Republican challenger Dick Zimmer 55 - 33 percent among likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac
University poll released today.

This compares to a 48 - 45 percent Sen. Obama lead in a September 16 poll by the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. Sen. Lautenberg held a 48 - 39 percent
likely voter lead September 17.

"The poll shows not only Democratic strength, but Republican weakness. Only 30 percent
say John McCain is the best candidate to handle the economy, and Sarah Palin's favorability
rating is in negative territory," Richards added.

Lautenberg gets a 47 - 25 percent favorability while 63 percent of voters say they don't
know enough about Zimmer to form an opinion.

"You can't win if the voters don't know who you are - unless they really dislike your
opponent. In this case, voters like Lautenberg well enough while two-thirds know very little
about Zimmer," Richards said.

New Jersey voters split on one component of Gov. Jon Corzine's economic stimulus
package, with 44 percent supporting and 42 percent opposed to investing $250 million from state
pension funds in community banks to encourage small business loans. Democrats support the
measure 53 - 31 percent while Republicans oppose it 55 - 37 percent and independent voters turn
thumbs down 46 - 39 percent.

Voters support 55 - 31 percent another stimulus measure, using $45 million from the State
Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. The measure gets
69 - 15 percent support from Democrats and 51 - 35 percent support from independent voters,
while Republicans oppose it 52 - 35 percent.

"Gov. John Corzine's emergency stimulus package gets mixed reaction from the voters,
which is understandable for something so complicated," Richards said. "The good news for the
Governor is that it did not get immediate voter rejection - the reaction that greeted his plan to
double tolls on the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway to solve the state's financial problems."

From October 16 - 19, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,184 New Jersey likely voters
with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion
surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and nationally as a
public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feeds - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you vote?
(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

TREND: If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates
were Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would
you vote? (If undecided) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

2. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the
candidates were Frank Lautenberg the Democrat, and Dick Zimmer the Republican
for whom would you vote?(If undecided q2) As of today, do you lean more toward
Lautenberg or Zimmer? This table includes "Leaners".

TREND: If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the
candidates were Frank Lautenberg the Democrat, and Dick Zimmer the Republican,
for whom would you vote? (If undecided) As of today, do you lean more toward
Lautenberg or Zimmer? This table includes "Leaners".

11. Governor Corzine this week proposed a New Jersey economic stimulus package
that has two key elements. Part of the stimulus package would invest 250 million
dollars from the state pension fund in community banks to encourage loans to
small businesses. Do you support or oppose this proposal?

12. Governor Corzine this week proposed a New Jersey economic stimulus package
that has two key elements. Part of the stimulus package would use 45 million
dollars from the State Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to help homeowners
in danger of losing their homes through foreclosure. Do you support or oppose
this proposal?